SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE PROPAGATION OF CONSPIRACY HEORIES ON COVID - 19 PANDEMIC IN NIGERIA: AN APPRAISAL

Cornelius A. Ukwueze (PhD), Joan Nkechi Odedede

Abstract


The detection and spread of COVID - 19 Pandemic brought with it the dissemination of lots of misinformation and conspiracy theories in the Social Media leading to some sorts of confusion among Users. This study examines the social media and propagation of conspiracy theories on COVID -19 pandemic in Nigeria. Quantitative Survey Research Method was used to obtain information for the study. Questionnaire containing two major sections with several key issues and a cross sectional face to face survey was conducted within the months of March - April, 2021 among youth in Delta State. A face to face structured questionnaire of 2000 pertaining social media and  the propagation  of conspiracy theories  on COVID -19 pandemic  in Nigeria  was administered to males as well as females  youth in five selected Local Government Areas of Delta State. The study found that social media are mostly used to propagate conspiracy theories on COVID -19 pandemic and however affirmed that social media platforms can filter out few conspiracy theories when content are censored. Generally, it was also found that people's perception of conspiracy theories varies from persons to persons in the studied area due to several social factors. Overall, COVID -19 conspiracy theories are pervasive in Nigeria and can be curtail /mitigated when media content moderation is employed. The study recommended that Social Media platforms should intensify its self censorship by adding some restrict features that check misinformation and unverified claims.

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